About Remembering Kinfolk
Kinfolkology respects the shoebox.
Most families have an archive, and if you’re reading this, chances are good you’re the family archivist. What’s in your collection? Whatever is in your shoebox (or your grandma’s shoebox, or your aunt’s shoebox, or…). Faded photographs, maybe, letters from loved ones who have passed on, a scrap of a favorite dress.
So why do we respect the shoebox? Because for most families, the shoebox has done just fine. In fact, there’s a lot to be said for the shoebox as an archive. For example:
The shoebox is yours.
If you’re the person with the shoebox, there’s probably a reason you’re the person with the shoebox. Maybe you’re the only one who can explain the significance of what’s inside. Or, maybe you’re the person who assembled the things in the shoebox, or the person someone decided should inherit the shoebox after them.
The shoebox is private.
You can share what’s inside if you want to, but you you’re not required to share the shoebox just so you can use the shoebox. And even if you do share your shoebox, you can always un-share it, meaning take it back, because it’s yours.
The shoe box is accessible.
As long as you don’t forget where you put the shoebox, you can access its contents–your things and your memories–whenever you want.